THE BENEFICIAL BEAN

From the therapeutic practice of coffee bathing in Japan, to an increase in alertness after a morning cup, coffee is considered to be more than just a sensorial experience. In the 17th Century, coffee enjoyed prominence in England, as the boiled water used for it was a safer alternative than water. Today, as long as the coffee is filtered in some form and taken in moderate amounts, it can reduce fatigue, improve performance, and its diuretic properties help the body to in turn filter itself. Caffeine also works as a mild bronchodilator, helping the lungs to relax, and can aid athletes to improve their performance in an endurance event. Several authors have also advanced the idea that coffee improves short-term memory and possibly long term memory as well.

Some information for these sites were gleaned from the following sources, which also offer good additional reading for those who wish:

www.nationalgeographic.com/coffee

Cowan, Brian. The Social Life of Coffee: the Emergence of the British Coffeehouse. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2005.

Illy, A. & Viani, R. eds. Espresso Coffee. The Science of Quality. London: Elsevier Academic Press, 2005.

Pendergrast, Mark. Uncommon grounds: the History of Coffee and How It Transformed the World. New York: Texere, 2001.

Standage, Tom. A History of the World in 6 Glasses. New York: Walker & Company, 2005.